Thermogenic Foods for Weight Loss

Thermogenics refers to any type of substance that, when ingested, stimulates the loss of body fat or increases calories which are burned due to the boost of heat output in the body. The weight loss market is a huge industry right now and thermogenics are at the height of their sale because they are extremely effective in helping people lose weight. Along with thermogenic drugs, there are also certain foods which have thermogenic properties.

It can be argued that all foods are thermogenics. Technically when we eat something our metabolism immediately speeds up. That being said, there are some foods that actually heat up our body significantly and stimulate fat burning at a higher level than normal. Foods considered thermogenics include citrus fruits, ginger, celery, grapefruit, spicy foods, green tea, and tumeric. Green tea holds one of the top spots when it comes to thermogenics. Not only does it increase metabolism but it has also been shown to decrease cravings for foods containing sugar and prevents the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. The reason it is such an effective thermogenic is because green tea contains caffeine as well as a compound called EGCG. EGCG (epigallocatchin gallate) is a compound which inhibits the enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is responsible for regulating metabolism and it also controls the rate at which the body burns fat. Preliminary studies on mice show that green tea consumption leads to less weight and fat gain as well as less fat in the liver and lower cholesterol levels.

The link between spicy foods and weight loss is one that is still under debate by scientists. Many health care professionals claim that spicy foods heat up your internal temperature purely because of the spice factor and this causes the body to burn fat at a quicker rate. Concrete scientific research on this subjecct is still lacking although a large number of people swear by a diet high in spice to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Red peppers, cayenne peppers, jalepeno peppers, hot sauces and any other spicy foods are all very low in calories yet high in flavor. The result of adding these foods to your dishes is not only an increase in body temperature and a higher rate of caloric burn, but because of the powerful flavour, people tend to eat way less than they normally would. Not a lot of people have a high tolerance for overly spicy food so once you amp up the spiciness you are going to eat less. One article claims that eating spicy foods can raise the metabolic rate by up to 50% for up to 3 hours after you’ve eaten a spicy meal.

Along with eating thermogenic foods, there are a number of highly effective thermogenic supplements available on the market today. Many of these supplements increase your metabolism, increase your heart rate, and keep food cravings at bay which all add up to weight loss. Make sure to consult your doctor before taking any supplements, especially if you are on any kind of medication.